Donna Westcott

A Sweet New Life Doula Services, LLC

Fee Details: $750 includes 2 In-home prenatal visits. We will discuss hopes for your birth, decide how best to work together as well as your unique and individual needs/desires for this birth and any fears or concerns you may have, an Information Packet, Unlimited phone/email/text support 9am-9pm, 24hrs of Labor Support, Suggestions for comfort measures, Support for birth partner, 2 Postpartum visits, Back-Up Doula Support, 24/7 On-Call Service 38-42 wks, one prenatal Acupressure session, and Acupressure support in labor
$900 includes:
All of the above as well as well as 3-4 additional in-home prenatal acupressure sessions.
Individual in-home prenatal acupressure appointments (approx. 1 hr): $69/session
Labor support for non-doula clients: $200/3-hr session
Payment plans or reduced fees are available on a case by case basis.

Birth Doula Experience: 4 years and 26 births attended

Birth Doula Certifications

toLabor - Certified Professional Birth Doula

Doula Training

The Organization of Labor Assistants for Birth Options & Resources (toLabor), September 2013

Type of Practice: Solo practice

Clients per Month: 1 to 2

Attends hospital births? All HospitalsPast experience supporting births at: VCUMC (OB and Midwifery practices), St. Francis (OB and Midwifery practices), St. Mary's, Memorial Regional, and Henrico Doctors' Hospital(OB and midwifery patients)Attends birth center births? All Birth CentersPast experience at Embrace Birth CenterAttends home births? Any Home BirthI am willing attend home births as long as there is care provider that has been hired and they will be present during the labor and birth. I will not attend any planned unassisted home births.

Breastfeeding Certifications

I have breastfed both of my own children each for more than 24 months each as well as having experience tandem nursing for 13 months

Other Relevant Certifications

I have attended a 14 hour acupressure training specifically for pregnancy, labor, birth and postpartum taught by Keith Bell as well as a Gena Kirby Rebozo Connection workshop

College Education

BA/BS

Specialized training or previous experience

Cesarean birth

Families conceiving with ART and IVF

Induced and high medical technology labor & birth

Plus size mothers

Remote and rural clients birthing away from home

Single parents

Survivors of Previous Life Trauma

Survivors of childhood sexual abuse

VBAC

Waterbirth

Women and Families of Color

Special Services Offered

Acupressure and/or acupuncture in labor

Aromatherapy

Baby-led weaning

Cloth diapering education

Sibling support (for your older children at the birth)

Relevant volunteer or advocacy work

I am a member of Richmond Doulas and serve as Social Media Officer on the Executive Committee.

Certifications for Donna Westcott

Client Testimonials for Donna Westcott

Heather Spradlin

Donna was incredibly helpful every step of the way! She helped me finalize my birth preferences and provided a lot of information on things that could happen once labor started, and decisions I would need to make, as well as practicing different labor positions. I felt so much more informed and less anxious about going into labor. She had a very calm, confident demeanor that kept me relaxed at the hospital. She was by my side and encouraged me the entire time. I wouldn't have wanted to go through it without her, and I highly recommend Donna to anyone getting ready to welcome a new baby. She was also very helpful answering questions and providing resources after I was back home as well.

Posted 8/27/2017

Lisa Garcia

We were on the fence about hiring a doula until a few weeks before my due date. I am so grateful that we found Donna. She was knowledgeable, caring, and provided resources I could not have found on my own. I can't imagne my labor experience without her. I had a very long labor and she was present and provided support the whole time. I am so glad we decided to hire a doula. Donna met all of my expectations. I wouldn't hesitate to hire her again if we were to have another baby.

Posted 7/24/2017

Paul Ritzenthaler

As we prepared for our first childs delivery, we thought we were fine just taking the Bradley Method class. The class was very informative, but i am so happy my wife and i made the decision to hire Donna. Not only was she very knowledgable, she was so helpful in the delivery room. Any questions we had, she always had an answer. Whether it was about the act of childbirth or needing something after the child was brought into the world, she always had the resources to help us.

Going into the delivery room, i thought i knew it all from taking the Bradley Method class. I soon found out that child birth is an ever changing process. If Donna was not there to help me through the 14 hour delivery, i don't know what i would have done. From her knowledge with different techniques to helping me with my wife, she did the most amazing job. She was with us the entire time and made the experience so much better for both me and my wife. Donna was truly an amazing asset that i cant imagine not having during labor.

Posted 9/14/2016

Abaigeal Ritzenthaler

I can't, nor do I want to, imagine what labor would have been like without Donna. She was knowledgeable, kind, and patient. Donna held my hand, let me squeeze her hand, did squats with me for hours, and held my leg as I pushed. She let my husband go to the bathroom, eat, and made sure I was never alone during labor. We were on the fence about hiring a doula or not and we ended up finding her last minute through our Bradley Coach. I'm so glad we went ahead and hired her and we will not hesitate to seek her for the next baby.

Posted 8/5/2016

Cori Rivara

Donna was such an encouragement before, during, and after the birth of my daughter! I never could have done it without her. She was so supportive and made the whole birth experience comfortable. Donna is knowledgeable in so many aspects of birthing, babies, pregnancy and postpartum. She was full of information and resources. She included my husband in the conversation by explaining things to him and was there to support him after the birth too. Simply, Donna is the greatest!

Posted 5/8/2015

Jennifer Gutkaiss

My experience with Donna was amazing. We met her through the meet the doulas event when I was about 20ish weeks pregnant. I knew from the moment I met her that I wanted her to be our doula. She's really easy to talk to and very supportive. Donna answered all the questions that came up and made sure to find answers to things she wasn't sure about. I also love how good she was with my oldest child, always making her feel included. My husband has a really demanding job and we really felt confident that she would be there to support us (especially in the event that my husband couldn't make it). During my pregnancy some unexpected things came up and she was encouraging and remdinded me of all my options. Throughout my laboring and delivery she did the same. I don't think I could have done it without her, even with my husband there! I'm really happy with our experience and I would definitely choose her again.

Posted 12/3/2014

Hannah Carter

Donna is friendly and easy to talk to. Those were the first things that I noticed about her when I met her, and decided that she was the right doula for me. Donna was very informed on the birth process, and was able to explain it to me thoroughly and in a way that I could understand, having never had a baby before. Donna made me feel prepared when I went to the hospital. There were mild complications, and I had an induction. When I went in to be induced, I felt that I had the knowledge I needed and I knew mostly what to expect. Donna helped me develop a birth plan that fit the needs of my family and myself. I would say that one of my favorite things about Donna is how she saw my husband as a very big part of the birth process and she was always checking to make sure he was involved and included in each step.

During the birth of my son, Tristan, Donna was so calm and collected and she was such a huge encouragement to me. She walked me through some very hard contractions and helped me to focus on certain things in order to help me through. Donna was especially helpful when it was time to push out the baby. She and my husband stood on either side of me and supported me. Donna knew exactly what to do, and she was confident but calm. Having Donna there made me feel safe because Donna knew what was going on and had the experience that I didn't have. I am so grateful to Donna for all of her help and advice, and I would recommend Donna without hesitation to any mother out there looking for assistance with her baby's birth!

Thank you!

Sincerely, Hannah

Posted 9/8/2014

Naeema Mason

My experience with Donna was GREAT! When I first contacted her I was 36 weeks pregnant and didnt know what to expect. I know when you're looking for a doula you have to go through an interview process and see if they are what you're looking for in alabor coach. Well, my husband and I didn't have time to go through a bunch of doulas so prior to us meeting Donna we were hoping for the best and got just that! Donna is a very pleasent and welcoming person. The day of my delivery (on mothers day) she met us at the hospital about 4:00am. After registration and getting situated in the delivery room, she was constantly encouraging and motivating me through labor. She made sure that my husband and I were comfortable with everything and even showed him different things he could do to help me during labor.When we were unsure of something, we asked Donna and she was able to help. After our son was born, Donna stayed with us for a few hours to make sure everything was fine. She followed up with a post partum visit to ensure that things at home were going well also. Donna was very respectful of our decisions and made it her duty to support us 100%. Any questions or information we needed prior to delivery and even after delivery, she was always on time with different articles and visuals. My husband and I are very glad we had Donna as our Doula and we would definitely have her again for our next child.

Posted 6/26/2014

Wendy Zolotovskaya

Donna was extremely helpful and supportive in the weeks leading up to delivery when I was having lots of contractions and other issues and she was amazing during labor and delivery. She was also very understanding and accomodating to any needs I had that were related to Sensory Processing Disorder. I was attempting VBAC and Donna helped me think deeply about my birth and helped me create a birth plan that I felt good about and that my OB liked. She was able to help me cope with labor longer than I ever thought I could and helped me stay informed so that I could make the best decisions even though it can be difficult in labor. Unfortunatley, things didn't go the way I wanted and I had to have a repeat cesarean but Donna made that birth the best birth it could be. She made sure the doctor was aware of the c-section part of my birth plan and had the nurse on board with the plan as well. In fact, Donna was very good at establishing rapport with all of the hospital staff which really helped during labor and delivery. I also appreciate how she helped my husband be a better birth partner and took care of so many details so that he could focus on me, in fact, he was also very grateful to have her help. I didn't have a doula for my first birth and after having Donna's help with the second, I wouldn't do it any other way. I came out of this experience feeling empowered and I have no regrets about my birth and I have Donna to thank for that.

Posted 5/16/2014

Melissa Taylor

I couldn't imagine my birth without Donna. She was an amazing help during the entire process. If it wasn't for her advice, counseling, encouragement, I would not have been able to have the birth that I wanted. She provided me with constant compainonship and advice to ensure that my birth was as uninevasive as possible.

From the moment my water broke, Donna was a wealth of information and encouragement. Instead of rushing to the hospital, like I thought I should do, she reminded me that I had options. In fact, throughout the laboring process, she reminded me that their were other options than just lying there.

I ended up not having an epidural, even though I was ready to throw in the towel multiple times. I was so greatful to have Donna as part of my birth experience and I highly recommend her for yours!